Chapter 553 - The Precinct

I was still looking down at the upside-down cone that they made and the pole we rigged was still out of sight. It was because of the number of the dead that tried to protect the big one the moment it got attacked was enough to cover it even with thrice the length. The pile-up was just one big effigy to keep away anything that saw it from a distance.

Several calls went through our headsets but it didn't take long before the trucks that Oscar used to take care of the bodies came into view.

Aside from the ones they took down on their post, the groups we've brought started to haul the bodies that were in the immediate vicinity, slowly skirting around the edges of the cemeteries. Each truck had a person or two designated to haul the bodies, guarding their perimeter, driving the truck itself, and giving out continuous reports.

Looking at it now, it would take them hours to take care of everything so I radioed in just to scout Monumento for a quick trip.

-

*bzzt*

[Go ahead, kid. Drop by that precinct that's right next to the university if you could.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"The one that's close to the mall? Why? Do you have something in mind except the gear we could take?"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Huh? That's reason enough, right? The files you're always taking too. It's already close, why don't you have a go at it?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Hmm, sure… Let me see if there's a place I could land."

*bzzt*

-

Hovering around the area, I had to park our helicopter on the building right next to the precinct which was a postal office. It was because of how the roof of the precinct was formed but all we needed to do was vault over a short gap to reach the area. However, a helicopter landing on an area that was close to two huge hotspots like a university and a mall would give us a little bit of trouble.

Stefan, Marina, and Petrov instantly went for the access door to the roof of this postal office while Tatiana and Mikhail vaulted over the small gap that would lead to the precinct. At the same time, Lois started to fire from the roof with his 10/22, prompting Chris and Cynthia to do the same. Kaley followed after them and as soon as I managed to turn the engine of the helicopter off, I joined the group that went for the precinct.

Tatiana and Mikhail were just about to breach the door but looking at the situation below, I jumped down without a second thought. Three shooters holding off one side while someone I completely trust could freely shoot deadheads a few inches away from me was more than an assurance that I would come out of this scot-free.

Tatiana shouted from the roof, "Need help?!"

"Nah, let's just meet on the inside."

Mikhail followed, "Why is it you always jump ahead when you're with us? Is it me?"

I just faintly smiled before I kicked down the one right in front of me wearing a bloody tiara. It staggered backward before a bullet came from above but then I stepped to the side before drawing my katana fully. I held it with one hand and the scabbard on the other as I kicked another zombie down, making it drop its head on the curb.

I heard the faint noise of its skull cracking but I made sure to stomp on its head before cutting down the deadheads coming for me.

'Six… Seven...'

Seven deadheads had their claws aiming for me so like a sane person would do, I stepped back and kited them by moving diagonally. Almost immediately, they were all in a line and the fight was now one-on-one. I instantly flicked my wrist to cut horizontally, lopping half the head of the one in front of me.

Following the same path but coming from the opposite direction, I flicked my wrist for the second time and it was as if I was back in my first position. The only thing different was that two bodies were missing a percentage of their heads and a bit of their ears. They didn't need to have a CT Scan in order to see inside their rotting heads.

The precinct had a small enclosure, almost like a simple funnel in front of their office which was holding off most of the dead coming through their driveway. I had to navigate around the vehicles that were abandoned, creating a simple loop to go around and kill them methodically. If there ever came a time I was trapped on both sides, I only had to climb over the SUVs and jump on a safe side to continue the process over and over.

'Just needed to take note of the bodies that I have but down...'

I made quick work of the ones that were coming but Lois started using his Rattler. He started firing faster and faster and even Kaley did the same.

"BRO, YOU BETTER HURRY UP AND USE YOUR GUN! THEY'RE COMING!" Lois shouted from the top.

Pausing for a short moment to hear the surroundings made me discover that the bulk of the ones that heard our helicopter was starting to make their way. Their low, grumbling growls were almost in unison but the two that just came behind me were enough. Their weapons were stained with blood and it looked like they rushed here when they heard Lois' shouts.

Tatiana was the first one to reach my side, "You have to see what's inside."

"We still have an audience… let's take care of them first."

Mikhail spoke up, "That herd wouldn't fit here."

I chuckled, "Then we go outside. Simple, right? I'll make the way."

The three of us rushed to the entrance of the driveway before part of their heads started flying one after the other. I was more inclined to see how my blade would slice their heads like butter but there was this unexplainable satisfaction hearing their skulls shatter from a blunt object.

The bodies that Mikhail was putting down were in a much terrifying state because they looked much worse compared to the guy that got smashed by a bat covered in barbed wire.

At the same time, Tatiana followed my lead but she was slowly fanning to my left, increasing the area of our advance by increments. It didn't take long before each of us were side by side, leaving a trail of deadheads that had a special 'bowl cut' look. We would advance and retreat depending on the cl.u.s.ters we were facing but we always had eyes in the sky.

Kaley and the rest kept on shooting the ones behind us while we continued going West, circling around to reach the post office to set a larger perimeter. However, it didn't take long before the other three: Petrov, Stefan, and Marina managed to get down from the post office and started another group for a hack and slash fiesta.

Their handhelds were also covered in blood but we didn't have time to wipe them down at the moment.

I got a better look at the three's fighting prowess and their fighting styles and it was more or less the same standard as the rest of them. They didn't particularly shine but they never got outshined either.

They each have their own quirks as they could support each other even if they look like their movements were in discord. Stefan was leading their charge but the moment we joined them, they followed Tatiana's lead as they also fanned further and further, letting me move as freely as I could with my blade.

It took a while to clear the initial advance of the ones approaching us but the moment we got a short breather, we blocked the entrance to the precinct and the post office respectively. A bit of gas was still left inside the other vehicles and it was easy enough to get them to start even without keys.

Mikhail led the three to properly take care of the bodies while Tatiana led me inside the precinct. The smell was already horrible outside but once we get to the enclosed spaces, it got much worse. However, the sight of the prisoners left inside their cages was vomit-inducing.

Their bodies were in the same state as the ones we've faced before but they were all stuck in between the rusted bars of the cells they were in. They were congealed in a way but they were still eating each other, hurting themselves more than they could nourish themselves. Their f.u.c.k.i.e.d up bodies were almost spilling out from the cells and the floor was filled with whatever f.u.c.k.i.e.d up fluids they were secreting.

Everything was just basking in the ambiance and I couldn't figure out which was which by the smell. Bile, vomit, shit, or whatever the f.u.c.k it was, I couldn't stay a second more.

"Are there others?" I asked.

Tatiana replied, "No, let's head to their armory."